Masters of Shadows

[Amber]

Dark ears had flattened against the fox’s head while mismatched hues had squinted slightly at the sound that bounced around the grand room at Clopin’s command. It was both an instinctual reaction and a learned one. Having more or less been yelled at constantly throughout his training had caused him to have a somewhat adverse reaction to loud voices. Even if they weren’t entirely directed at him. That wasn’t to say he wouldn’t listen or that he was frightened by the sound, just that the reaction to them was more or less involuntary at this point.

As the gathered Rogue members slowly started to leave the room after Clopin, Amber had paused to stare after Shenzi as she slunk away. He hadn’t meant for his words to come off as condescending, in fact, he’d meant quite the opposite. The teasing note to his tone had just been a natural insert, intended to try and defuse the situation not make it worse. He had suggested that they explain the plan to the two ferals, he’d even wanted to hear more of it himself. Like them, he didn’t completely understand the human gibberish, but he understood enough to make guesses at the least. Even if they weren’t the right ones.

Letting out a sigh, Amber turned and followed after Clopin and the others. His form easily slipping into the shadows as they began to stalk through the night. Giving a flick to his ears, Amber gave voice to a thought that had been running through his mind since Shenzi left.

“It’s just going to get worse from here, isn’t it?”

[Clopin]

On the steps of the grand cathedral, that loomed over them like a giant, the gypsy king sighed deeply, shaking his head as Aurelio joined him not too long after Taylor had. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and let his shoulders fall. Turning his attention from Taylor to Aurelio, he rested a hand on the other’s shoulder.

“Don’t apologize. It was not your fault that Shenzi felt the way she did. I know you never intended for that to happen, but it did, and we must move on. We can’t sit and keep everyone happy.” Clopin said, his voice low enough just for Aurelio to hear.

When Amber voiced his concern, the king turned his attention to the fox.

“I will not have that attitude here, mon ami. A comrade of ours was hurt in the last battle, and badly. If we didn’t get her to the medics in time, she would have certainly died from her wounds. It is our duty as her fellow soldiers and as my assassins to find out how we can exact revenge on those Blackblood rascals.” Clopin said.

He then pointed north of the cathedral, in the direction of the nobles’ homes.

“Sir Brighton’s home is located over there. The quickest way we can get there unseen is by rooftop. Let’s go.” Clopin said, suddenly disappearing into a cloud of purple smoke. He reappeared on the roof of a building nearby a few seconds later, waiting for the rest of them to follow suit. Taylor took a running start, and scaled the building with relative ease. She joined the king at his side, looking at the others expectantly.

[Shanty]

“... Aurelio.”

The robot speaks softly, a soft puff of smoke pressing past her lips.

“I’m not questioning this decision, please understand that I’m not, but I’m not going to be able to get up there. I mean, I can, But it’s very ill-advised. I weigh three tons, Aurelio. I’m no human, or fox, or tiger. All of France will know.”

Her voice is pressing, her brow creased slightly, “Please explain to His Majesty that my staying down here is stealthier than anything I can do on the roof. I’ll rendezvous with you all again just before we reach our destination, aye?”

Shanty can’t help but be a bit nervous. Half a plan, at least one member off doing... whatever. The last time she’d been so unprepared...

A gloved hand presses against her chest, and there’s a rattling sigh.

[Deleted]

Silently following in suite, Khan kept his mouth completely shut up until the point the purple cladded king was suddenly on the rooftop. His brows furrowed together, as he gazed up towards him. How did this human expect him to get up on the building without any clear path?

His tail thrashed back and forth before he made an attempt to get onto the stonework nearby. It certainly wasn't easy but eventually, he made it up onto the roof with some uneven footing. The colossal beast, gripping onto whatever he could before he turned his gaze to Clopin.

"Didn't realize climbing was part of our initiation." He tutted lightly, though even in his sore mood it seemed like some sort of dry joke.

[Amber]

Mismatched eyes widened slightly, and dark ears flicked as Clopin addressed Amber’s musing. The fox wasn’t used to others acknowledging them, so the fact that Clopin did took him by surprise.

“Of course.” Was his immediate response. He knew full well how critical this mission was, and he didn’t intend to let it fail, quite the opposite actually. Jenn deserved to be avenged, of that there was no doubt. It was just that with how things had gone so far, Amber couldn’t really see how things could go smoothly from that point. It just didn’t seem likely. Something else was bound to go wrong, as for what though remained to be seen.

The vulpine was quick to join his comrades up on the roof and managed to make it up mere moments after Khan had. At the tiger’s quip, Amber found himself smirking.

“What's the matter Stripes? I thought cats liked high places.”

[Esmeralda]

The gypsy assassin paused and cocked his head when the robot stopped him. Her explanation made sense, and he appreciated her tact in approaching the issue. Aurelio gave her his best winning smile, "You're right. But I don't want you splitting on your own. I'll tell Clopin that you and I will take an alternate route to Sir Brighton's."

Aurelio gave Shanty a wink, "Be back in a moment!"

Aurelio spun on the spot and with a little monkey-like clambering he managed to get to the roof of the adjacent building. It wasn't the most... graceful of pursuits, but it got the job done. Aurelio sidled up to his bother and spoke softly, "Shanty won't do well climbing over the roofs of Paris, Clo."

Aurelio thumbed over his shoulder towards the ground, "I'm going to go with her on an alternate route. It'll at least be a bit more discreet than a metal robot woman clanging shingled roofs," he gave raised his eyebrows playfully at Clopin to make light of the situation, "Don't worry, we'll meet you at Sir Brighton's in 15 minutes."

He clapped his brother on the shoulder and gave him a firm squeeze. With a parting bow to his fellow assassin's, Aurelio swung himself over the roofs edge, and then hopped down to Shanty's side, "Alright, m'dear, shall we?"

Aurelio playfully offered Shanty his elbow.

[Shanty]

The Captain can't help the slight smile that passes her lips when Aurelio returns, offering his arm as if they were going for a gentle walk through the park. Gloved hand carefully rests in proper position, and Shanty settles at his side with a soft laugh, "You tricksy pixie~ Lead the way, Dear."


In all honesty, Shanty truly appreciated the gesture. It made her feel a bit less like the odd-creature-out, which was saying a lot, considering the current group makeup. But the more the Assassins crept, stalked, and snuck about, the more Shanty felt a bit... out of place. Her power lies in cannons, fire, and guns. In the whirring of machinery and the crackle of fire. There was nothing like that here.


At least she might be able to stretch out those interrogation wings of hers...

[Clopin]

Both the king and Taylor watched as Shere Khan climbed onto the roof, followed by Amber. Clopin continued to silently wait for Aurelio and Shanty, but for some reason, it seemed that the two were chatting.

Before Clopin could put a stop to it, Aurelio appeared before him rather quickly, and the king couldn’t help but feel a little bit stupid. In his excitement to get to Sir Brighton, he had forgotten that Shanty was a several ton war machine, and having her hop from shingled roof to shingled roof would go against all definitions of the word stealth.

He nodded in response to his brother, and once Aurelio joined Shanty’s side once more, he turned back to Amber, Taylor, and Khan.

“I never intended for climbing to be part of the initiation, but now that you mention it, I suppose it could be.” Clopin said, with a wink. He then pointed out an abode that sat by the banks of the Seine, the only one with a flame flickering by one of the lower level’s windows.

“That is the house we must get to.” Clopin said.

——

Once they had reached Sir Brighton’s home, the gypsy king leapt down into the alleyway that connected the house to another, and luckily for them, the sound of a lover’s quarrel on the banks of the Seine masked their landing.

“What are we doing down here? Where’s Aurelio and Shanty?” Taylor whispered. Clopin silently pointed out in the direction of the street up ahead, and she could just vaguely make out the shape of two people making their way over.

“Oh never mind. Dumb question.” Taylor said, with a guilty grin.

[Deleted]

Silence hung heavy over Khan as he took in the change to his surroundings. Noting every entry and exit pointed around him before his gaze slid over to Shanty and Aurelio's approaching figures. Dark tinted ears curled forward in an attempt to listen before he turned his gaze upward to Clopin.

Perhaps he had been too hasty to get on a roll earlier, but he would not let such a thing be known. He simply waited for instruction as to what to do next in the scheme that Clopin had planned. The travel here had been somewhat of a pain, and Khan was starting to grow antsy about what they would do next.

[Shanty]

"..Mmh. I hope I'm not the driving force behind a failure."


Shanty had been silent for most of the walk, seemingly lost in her thoughts. Though now that she was speaking, it seemed she was simply worrying.


"While I agree that anger and frustration can be a driving force, it seems like we've let it take the wheel. If I hadn't joked with the tiger or the hyena..." There's a linger here, for a moment, before she seems to sigh, pressing a puff of smoke past her lips.


"I believe I'm rather out of touch, Aurelio, and rather out of place. Everyone here is serious, and silent. I am not destined to be either."